Reclining chair with coordinated leg rest



Nov. 17, 1953 c. A. HUGHES 2,659,415 RECLINI-NG CHAIR w Filed Jan. l2,1953 1TH cooRDINATEb LEG REST 3 'sheets-sheet 1 FIG. I.

v Fle 7 1 FL@ INVENTOR" (LAUDE lA. HUGHES y gmx/4@ .4

` 'JQQITORNEYS Nov. 17, 1953 'c. A. HUGHES RECLINING CHAIR WITHCOORDINATEDKLEG REST s sham-sheet 2 Filed Jan. 12, 195:5

I /h 62 Muuuufunuum INVENTOR CLAUDE A.` HUGHES BW TTORNEYS Nov. 17,1953c. A. HUGHES RECLININGCHAIR WIT l 2,659,415 H COORDINATE'D LEG REST lssheets-sheet s Filed Jan. l2, 1953 INVENTOR CLAUDE A. H UGHES ATTORNEYSPatented Nov. 17, 1953 UN I'TED STATES PATENT OFFICE RECLINING CHAIRWITH CQORDINATED LEG REST This invention relates to reclining'chairs andmore particularly to reclining chairs of the type having a leg restmember which Vmovesf-in cotionwith such a chair is the provision of avleg rest member Vwhich is normally maintained ini aninoperatwe positionwhen the movableA chair seatv or back 1s in anormal sitting position,`butV which may be swung upwardly to serve its lleg rest function incoordination with movements members into reclining position.

that the linkage system coordinating movements of the seat, back and legrest in such a chair be simple in structure and easilyl operated. It isalso necessary to provide a lock-A ing arrangement. .which permitslocking or 'the pivotally mounted seat or backand the attached leg restin any desired position.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a recliningchair in-which movements ofthe seat or back are communicated to a legrest member.

It is a further object of this invention to provide anv improvedarrangement for communi asupporting structure. and a leg rest memberpivotally connected to the front portion of the seat, with a linkagesystem connected between the seat-back structure and the leg rest tocommunicate motions of the seat-back to the leg is pivotally connectedtoof its fends' to alinkfwhich connectsfit to ank intermediate portionofthe levermember, .and a link connectingthefleg :rest membentoan outerportion of the lever member.` An important feature of my invention isVthe provision` of a locking means which cooperates with.;the1con.-necting member to permit locking. .of` .the .seatback structure and .thepivotally r connected leg' rest in any desired position.

The features of this'invention which I believe tobe novel are. set-forth withsparticularityin the appended claims. My .inventionit'selihow ever, both as.toitszorganizationlan-d. use, to getheri with. furtherobjects i and .f advantages thereof, may be. best. understood .byreference to the following description, l.takenin .connection with theaccompanying drawings -inifwhichl Fig. 1 is a-.si'deelevation;partiallycutaway, of a reclining chairfin'accordance'lwithmypinvention;

Fig. 2.is a lplan-view offthechainof -Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged -fragmentaryviewtalren along vertical section line3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig..4 is ani enlarged fragmentaryview taken along vertical section'lineV14-4 ofi-Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is Aa graphicalv representation of. the linkagesystem'betweenthepivoted seat andthe pivoted leg rest :when .the/chair'islin normal sitting position;

Fig.k 6 is a graphical representation foi :the posi.; tion of thelinkage`systeminterconnecting:the seat andthe legfrestrwhenfthe chairxisincre-` clining position; r

Fig. 7 is an enlarged View of the locking mech.'-`

anism taken along section' line 'l-l of. Fig. 2;

Fig. 8 isaview lof a-portionfof the..locking arrangement 'taken alongvsection 'line .8-8 of Fig..7; and

Fig. 9 is a viewofva portion. of thelocki'ng arrangement taken alongsectionV lineI9-9of Fig. 7.l

Referring nowv to the drawings; andvmore particularly to Figs.r 1 'and2, I have illustrated my invention 'as emb'od1ed in'areclining cha-irhav ing `a movableV unitary seat-backstructure, gen'- erallyindicated'at lLUcomprising a seat fram-e portion rl2 which is rigidlyconnected to aback The seat-back structure' I9 is supported for movementabout a horizontal' axis rear verticallyeextending *framel members'or'legs 28 on either side of the chair. Legs I8 are joined at their lowerend at the front portion of the chair by a cross piece member 22 andlegs 28 at the rear of the chair are joined at their lower end by across piece member 24. A brace member 26 is positioned intermediate ofthe width of the chair at the bottom thereof and extends from the crosspiece member 24 at the rear of the chair to cross piece member 22 at thefront of the chair. A rigid side wall portion 28 extends for at leastpart of the height of the chair between the front leg I8 and the rearleg 20 on each side of the chair.

It will be seen, therefore, that the stationary or supporting arms I6,legs I8 and 28, frame members 22, 24, 26, and the side wall portions 28.

The unitary seat-back structure is pivotally mounted for movement abouta horizontal axis by means of a pivotal connection I I of the length ofthe seat portion. As a support for the pivotal connection, a supportmember 30 may be rigidly attached to the inner surface of wall portion28 on each of the opposite sides of the chair, substantially centrallylocated with respect to the length of the chair. A metal bracket member32, best shown in Fig. 4, is rigidly attached to the side edge of theseat frame I2, bracket member 32 extending below the bottom surface ofthe seat frame. A suitable pivot pin II passes through the lower portionof the bracket 32 and through a bracket member 36 which is rigidly fixedto the support member 30. A similar pivotal connection is provided oneach of the opposite sides of the chair, and due to these pivotalconnections the unitary seat-back structure I8 may be pivoted withrespect to the stationary frame structure about the pivot pins II. Ihave shown the arrangement just described as an operative embodiment ofmy structure but obviously other pivotal connections between the unitaryseat-back and the support could be provided.

A leg rest 38 is pivotally connected to the seat at the front portionthereof by any suitable means, such as metal bands 48 which are rigidlyconnected to the side edges of the leg rest and which are pivotallyconnected to the side edges of the seat frame I2 at 42. A spring member44 which normally biases the chair in the sitting position is connectedbetween the under portion of the seat I2 adjacent the front thereof andthe inner surface of wall 28 at one side of the chair.

In order to communicate to the leg rest member 38 motion of theseat-back structure about its pivotal connection with respect to thesupporting framework of the chair, a linkage system is used which willnow be described. The linkage system connecting the seat and the legrest comprises a lever member 46 which is pivotally connected at point41 to the intermediate cross piece member 26 which extends from thefront to the rear of the chair. A connecting member 48 is pivotallyattached at 5I to a bracket member 52 which is rigidly connected to theseat structure. The opposite end of connecting member 48 is pivotallyconnected at 56 to a link 50 which, in turn, is pivotally connected at58 to an intermediate portion of lever 46. A link 68 com-4 municatesmotions of lever 46 to leg rest 38, link 68 being pivotally connected at62 to the outer; end of lever 46 and at 64 to a bracket member 65 whichis rigidly attached to leg rest 38.

i An important feature of my invention is the framework of the chaircomprises intermediate attached to connecting member 48,

manner in which connecting member 48 cooperates with a locking means topermit locking oi' the movable chair members in any desired angularposition. In the embodiment shown in the drawings, connecting member 48is slotted along a portion of its length to permit passage through themember of a locking means generally indicated at 66 which will bedescribed hereinafter in more detail. The locking mechanism may beoperated to lock the linkage in any given position but when the lockingmechanism is released, as will be later described, the connecting member48 is movable in a path which is constrained by the presence of thelocking member.

There are diagrammatically illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6, respectively,the positions of the seat member I2, the leg rest 38, and theinterconnecting linkage between these members in both the normal sittingposition of the chair and the reclining position of the chair. Thediagrammatic representation of Fig. 5 corresponds to the position of thelinkage as shown in Fig. 3. When the seat I2 is moved in a clockwisedirection with respect to the views shown in Figs. 5 and 6, about itspivotal connection I I to the stationary framework of the chair, andassuming that the locking mechanism has been released, connecting member48 moves upwardly along its slotted portion, at the same time moving ina clockwise dlrection. The clockwise motion of member 48 is communicatedby link 58 to lever 46, which is caused to pivot in a counterclockwisedirection about its pivot point 41. The counterclockwise motion of lever46 causes link member 68 which is connected between the upper end oflever member 46 and the leg rest member 38, to be moved to the left withrespect to the views shown in Figs. 5 and 6, causing leg rest member 38to be pivoted upwardly in a clockwise direction about its pivotalconnection 42 to the seat I2. The motion of the seat-back structure ismultiplied or amplified in being transmitted to the leg rest due to thefact that the leg rest is connected to the outer portion of lever 46,whereas the link 50, is attached to the intermediate portion of lever46.

In order to lock the unitary seat-back and connected leg rest in anydesired angular position, I have provided in cooperative relation withconnecting member 48 a locking mechanism which in general is similar tothat disclosed in my pending application Serial No. 293,993, filed June17, 1952. The locking mechanism is operated by a handle member 10 whichpasses through a mounting plate 12 which is rigidly attached to theoutside surface of one of the side walls 28 of the chair. An operatingshaft 14 which is square in cross-section is rigidly attached to handle18 and passes through a suitable aperture provided in the side wall 28.The opposite end of shaft 'I4 fits into one end of a hollow shaft 16which passes through a suitable aperture in cross piece or brace member26. The end of the hollow shaft 18 which receives square shaft 14 issquare in crosssection, but the opposite end of hollow shaft 16 is roundin cross-section to receive a rod member 18 of round cross-section whichis held in a xed position with respect to hollow shaft 16 by a pinmember 80. Rod member 18 is provided with a portion which projectsoutwardly from the end of hollow shaft 16, the outermost end of thisoutwardly projecting portion being provided with a head member 82, head82 having shoulders 84 which provide a bearing surface. Starting at theshoulders 84 and extending for a portion of the rin connection maantface of bearing member 88. and theshoulders 84.

of head member 52. A metal `Washerilfmaysbe interposed between shoulders84 and the surface of link ce.

When handle member 'logis turned to operate shaft ifi, the rotation ofshaft 'I4 is communicated to hollow shaft F6, causing shaftliand rodmember le to turn. The threads 86 on rod member 'i3 cooperate with thethreadson bearing member 88 and cause anV axial shifting `of hollowshaft it, rod member 78 and head 82 'in such'mann'er as to either clampor unclamp the bearing shoulders 8d of head 82 with respect to member48. Thus, by turning the handle 'l0 in one direction, the operator maytighten the head 82 against the washer @d and member` 48 in such manneras to clamp the linkage system in xed position. When the handle memberis turned in the other direction, the head 82 is unclamped with respectto member d3, and the chair may be adjusted to any desired angularposition, after which the locking mechanism is again tightened to clampthe members in position. Due to the fact that operating shaft le is notpositively connected to the hollow shaft "i6, shaft 'E6 may have anaxial motion with respect to shaft 'i4 Without causing any axialmovement of shaft 'I4 or handle 10.

It can be seen from the foregoing that I have provided in accordancewith my invention an improved arrangement for reclining chairs havingcoordinated leg rests. I have provided a linkage for communicatingmovements of a pivoted seat or back member to a leg rest which is simplein construction and economical to manufacture, and which ischaracterized by ease and sureness of operation. Furthermore, I haveprovided an arrangement for locking the movable chair elements in anydesired angular position in accordance with which a locking meanscooperates with the connecting member which communicates motion of themovable seat or back to the leg rest linkage.

While I have shown and described my linkage arrangement for coordinatingmotion of the leg restA and for locking the chair elements in positionin connection with a reclining chair having a unitary seat-backstructure, obviously my linkage and locking arrangement could be usedwith a chair in which the seat and back are movable relative to eachother.

While there has been shown and described a particular embodiment of myinvention, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that variouschanges and modincations can be made therein without departing from theinvention and, therefore, it is aimed in the appended claims to coverall such changes and modifications as fall Within the true spirit andscope of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desiredto secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A reclining chair comprising a supporting framework, a chair bodymember pivotally supported by said framework for movement about ahorizontal axis, a leg rest member pivotally supported at the front ofsaid chair, a connecting member pivotally attached to said body member,a lever member pivotally connected to said framework, a first link meansjoining said connecting member to said lever member, and a second linkmeans joining.saidlevermemberto said leg. rest.

2. Av reclining` chair yas `deined :in yclaim 1 in` vvhichfsaidl secondlinklmeansis connected to an outerportionof `said-levermember and saidfirst link means is -connected to said `leverat a .point intermediatethe pivotal connection ofsaid lever to'said framework y.and the pointofconnection ofsaid .second lin-k` means.

3.A reclining chairwasdeined `in claim-1 havingv engageable with saidfconnecting locking means member to lock tion.

said chair body'memberv in Vposi- 4. A-vreclining chair as denedin claim1r iny which lsaid connecting ymemberis slotted to `receive a lockingmeans.

5.'- A reclining chair as dened Ain claimll comprising means for lockingsaid chair body member in a predetermined angular position, said lockingmeans comprising a bearing member rigidly attached to said supportingframework, said bearing member being internally threaded, a rod membersupported for rotation in said bearing member, said rod member beingexternally threaded to mate with the internal threads of said bearing,handle means for turning said rod member, a locking head rigidlyattached to an end of said rod member, said connecting member beingslotted longitudinally to receive said rod member, said locking headbeing disposed adjacent a surface of said connecting member for lockingengagement therewith.

6. A reclining chair comprising a supporting framework, a chair bodymember pivotally supported by said framework for movement about ahorizontal axis, a leg rest member pivotally supported at the front ofsaid chair, a connectsaid lever member to said leg rest.

7. A` reclining chair comprising a supporting framework, a seat memberpivotally connected for movement about a horiof said seat,

member, and link means connected between an member and said leg rest.

8. A reclining chair as dened in claim 7 having locking means engageablewith said connecting member to lock said seat member in position.

9. A reclining chair as ceive said locking means.

10. A reclining chair as dened in claim '7 comprising means for lockingsaid seat 7 member, a locking head rigidly attached to' an end of saidrod member. said connecting member being slotted longitudinally toreceive said rod member, said locking head being disposed adjacent asurface of said connecting member for locking engagement therewith.

11. A reclining chair comprising a unitary seat-back member, astationary supporting framework for said seat-back member, said seatbackmember being pivotally connected to said framework for movement about ahorizontal axis, a leg rest member, said leg rest member being pivotallyconnected to the seat portion ot said seat-back member at the frontportion thereof, and means for coordinating the movement of said legrest with said seat-back member com- CLAUDE A. HUGHES.

References Cited in the me of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 2,470,781 Lorenz May 24, 1949 2,647,559 Richardson Aug. 4,1953

